Well folks, the New Year is not even 3 weeks old yet and there’s already been a lot going on!
New Band Photography
We started everything off with a bang and a snap the first week by asking our friend Cam Sanders, a great photographer, to create new band photography for us and the wonderful results can be found on our website’s gallery page: http://www.susieglaze.com/gallery
New Sounds!
Also early in the month, our friend Ken Lopez from USC did us a big favor by helping us to find new sound equipment which we did with the help of Kurtis Ewing at Westlake Professional Sales. Now we’re traveling around with some fine Audiotechnica mics and are really happy with them. The other cool sound addition to the band is my brother Rick’s Martin 0018. The day before we played Kulak’s he brought it down from
January Shows
The month has already seen two shows – we had a great time at Kulak’s Woodshed in North Hollywood with Tracy Newman and the Reinforcements on January 9th, and the following weekend took the Quartet to Tom Lee’s Songtree Music Series in
Lastly this month it’s the Concert for
NAMM
Steve and I attended the NAMM trade show (National Association of Music Merchants) a couple of weeks ago in Anaheim, where we ran into many of our buddies hanging at the Martin Guitar exhibit. Thanks to our friends at IBMA (thanks Jill!), we attended as members of that organization. At Martin we were incredibly lucky to meet with Dick Boak who handles Artist & Public Relations, and is the editor of “The Sounding Board” (Martin's official newsletter). We shared with him the unique story of how our D28 came to us, and he offered to add a listing about our band and our Martin story to the newsletter, published twice a year. The story in short: Our Martin D-28 (pictured in the banner photo on the top of our website) came to us by way of Steve's good friend, actor John Goodman. John worked with Steven Spielberg in the movie "The Flintstones" and was given the guitar as a gift from the director. John found he didn't play the guitar very often and offered it to Steve who promptly jumped at the chance to own this gorgeous instrument. We've featured it in our concerts and recording sessions ever since.
We should be in Vol. 29 of “The Sounding Board” this summer.
Also while at the NAMM show we were delighted to set up artist relationship agreements with Shubb Capos (http://www.shubb.com/) and Deering Banjos (http://www.deeringbanjos.com/). Steve ordered a Vega Old Tyme model from the Deering booth and we’re excited to have it arrive soon. Watch out for some old fashioned plunking from Steve coming soon…!
Writing
I’ve started my CD review writing for Dirty Linen (http://www.dirtylinen.com/) and my first byline will appear in their March/April issue. On Folkworks (http://www.folkworks.org/) my review of Jeni & Billy’s CD “Jewel Ridge Coal” is currently CD Review of the Week.
February Shows
As I write we’re preparing for our February shows, including our first time in the San Francisco Bluegrass & Old Time Festival (http://www.sfbluegrass.org/). All the details for February are here:
Saturday, February 6, The Juke Joint Gang At The Talking Stick
We join Ernest Troost's monthly songwriter show. 8:00 p.m. FREE! 1411C
Friday, February 12, Fireside Concerts
February 13-14,
Susie and the Hilonesome Band join the Old Time Bluegrass Festival for our first time this year. Saturday 2/13 McGrath's Pub,
Jean
As I write, my beloved Jean Ritchie ails in a
Here is a recent letter exchange between a fan and myself:
“Dear Susie,
I am writing with an inquiry about the CD Singin' the Moon Up, The Voice of Jean Ritchie. First let me tell you how much I enjoy the work on that CD. Having enjoyed Jean's music and meeting her has been a highlight of my life. When the CD started playing the first time at my home your voice literally brought tears to my eyes because you ''captured' her spirit and her voice so well. Very, very nice work. I can only imagine how Jean must have felt hearing your lovely voice singing her songs/her life. Blessed, I'll bet. Carroll”
My reply:
“Dear Carroll:
Thank you especially for your reflections on “Singin’ the Moon Up.” It was a labor of love as the saying goes, a joy of my life, made unforgettable by Jean's participation, as well as the presence of her husband George (his photographs) and sons Jon and Peter in the show with us. Jean’s been an inspiration to say the least, both as an artist and as a woman and human being. Jean's brand of Grace is becoming more and more obsolete in this world, sadly. It is in attempting to obtain her level of purity that I've been able to emulate her skill, and I am honored and gratified that it has resonated for others.”
From Jean to me:
“The wonderful thing to me is that when I hear your recording of any song of mine (L&N definitely included), I feel as though it is myself, singing. I don't know if you realize it, but you're the only one who respects my melodies enough not to reinvent them, "make them my own," as most singers describe this process. I don't usually mind, or not within reason, but you're the only one who can manage to "make it your own," and still present the original tune recognizably.” “Susie, I love the way you do the song. You sing it in a wonderful, honest style, and get all the things I feel into your performance of it. It cannot be sung better- differently, but never better. So- you can quote that if you like!” “I just am supremely grateful and happy that you like my efforts at songwriting, and that you have sung and recorded them so beautifully over these few years blessed with the warmth of our friendship.”
Jean Ritchie Mudcat Post from May 7, 2009:
“Here. We're back- son Jon from a two-week hospital stay, still having tests after getting home as they still can't find what the trouble is. George from another series of test, taking 18 different pills a day, soon to be told to start dialysis. Myself growling around the house with a hundred aches and pains. I can see and feel big changes coming, and know that this long Growing-Old part of our lives is coming to an end--- We ARE old! I start reading sympathetically about poor OLD people, and suddenly it hits me: What? I myself am 86. What do we do with our house? Man- all these taxes, who'll pay them next year? Will we go to a nursing home? Have a live-in nurse? I tell you, it's so hard when you finally realize that Life makes you keep on learning- right up to the end. I guess, as long as I can understand Life's messages, I'll be able to go on.
And I tell myself, "Just think of all the people that ever lived in this world. How many problems and worries and tragedies have they endured, along with the fewer joys and goodtimes and successes? And, when you come down to it, one is one and all alone and evermore shall be so. Or another way of putting it, You got to cross that lonesome valley by yourself.
I don't dread it, once I accept it. I have so loved my Mother and Father, all my gaggle of sisters, my three brothers (only one out of all of them is still in the world with me). We hurt with them if they have pain at the end, but we cannot go with them or ease that journey. Someone said, "The dead always look peaceful." I believe they are. I believe that they have walked the valley and found at last the destination we all are are striving to find. What else is Life, but a trip towards something higher and better? People who have almost died, have talked of being in a dark tunnel with a faint but bright light far ahead; then their passage is forbidden and they have to turn from the light and return to Life- to do an unfinished task there? To help or guide someone else for awhile longer?
I wonder- but it doesn't matter, does it? None of us can live forever. We must live Life to the fullest, then give those behind us a loving farewell. That's what I hope I can do.
I'll stop, because I don't know what I'm trying to say, but I thought it ought to be said. I guess I was trying to understand, myself, that not all of us CAN live to be old, or WANT to, and so arrive earlier at that entrance into the next world. In my personal prayers, I always say in my thoughts, "Lord, I'll stay as long as You need me, so show me what to do..."
Big Mick, feel better, and I hope that Fate, or Karma, or whatever, eases up on you. I know you'll be needed in this Life for a long time, so take the reins that have been handed to you, and have a good, long run. You have many who love you and are running along with you, and that lonesome valley is still far away.
Love to you all, Jean
PS: Darn- I bet y'all will think this is a stupid letter, and tomorrow I may think so myself! But it's what I felt like saying.”
______________________________________________
Friends,
I send you Blessings and Love, as Jean would write, herself.
Susie
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